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Nov. 20, 2018 – For six years now, Canadian Forest Industries has showcased the achievements and potential of young forestry leaders in our Top 10 Under 40. In order to individually acknowledge and highlight the contributions of each winner, CFI will feature one of 2018's winners every week for the next 10 weeks.

Kate Lindsay is a forest leader, environmental champion, and conservation steward. As vice-president of sustainability and environmental partnerships at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), 38-year-old Kate is responsible for advancing the forest products industry position on key federal legislative files such as species at risk, migratory birds, the Fisheries Act, climate change and biodiversity. Kate has a BSc in biology and is a registered professional biologist.

An example of Kate’s outstanding leadership is her work as FPAC’s lead for the implementation of the Species at Risk Act in the forest sector. Kate has demonstrated a strong grasp of the science, led national roundtable discussions, and engaged in collaboration with federal and provincial government representatives, Indigenous leaders, and environmental groups to find solutions to support caribou recovery across Canada.

“We need more Kate Lindsays in the forest sector… I have always believed you don’t have to be a CEO to show leadership and you don’t have to be 50 to be a role model,” says Kathy Abusow, president and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. “While Kate is still early in her career she is already showing herself to be a competent leader and an excellent role model for young women.”

Kate also demonstrated a strong sense of partnerships by actively participating in the National Advisory Panel (NAP) Report on protected and conservation areas. Kate was one of three industry representatives appointed to the panel to provide recommendations reflecting a broad spectrum of perspectives, based on the best available science and traditional knowledge, on how governments, non-government organizations and Canadians could collectively achieve Canada’s target of 17 per cent of protected and conservation areas throughout the country.

“I know I speak on behalf of our entire team and membership at FPAC when I say that Kate Lindsay’s work ethic, thoughtfulness, and commitment to excellence puts her among the very best in today’s Canadian forest products sector,” says colleague Derek Nighbor, CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada. “People take to Kate because she listens, she wants to understand all angles of complex issues, and she demonstrates through her approach and actions what integrity is all about.”